Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) and feeding differences are often misunderstood, with many approaches relying heavily on exposure-based treatment. But ARFID is far more complex. When the intersections of neurodivergence, sensory differences, interoception, executive functioning, trauma, and chronic illness are overlooked, both clinicians and clients can feel stuck.
This 6-part training invites clinicians to rethink ARFID through a neurodivergent-affirming lens and gain practical tools, case-based insights, and deeper frameworks to better support clients struggling to nourish themselves.
6 x 2-hour live sessions, approved for 12 CPEUs by the CDR
Guest speaker: Kris Scover, RD (they/them)
All sessions are delivered live and will be recorded
Extended one-year access
Dates: May 19, May 26, June 2, June 16, June 23, June 30
Time: 12:00–2:00 PM Eastern Time
Examine the intersections between neurodivergence, feeding differences, eating disorders, and ARFID, and how these dynamics shape adult relationships with food and the body.
Critically evaluate how systemic barriers, stigma, and ableism within healthcare systems influence the recognition, interpretation, and treatment of feeding challenges.
Understand the roles of sensory processing, interoception, nervous system regulation, and executive functioning in shaping access to nourishment.
Apply neurodivergent-affirming accommodations and practical clinical tools that support safety, reduce overwhelm, and increase consistency with eating.
Integrate trauma-informed and burnout-informed approaches when supporting clients navigating ARFID alongside chronic illness, fatigue, pain, or fluctuating capacity.
Strengthen clinical decision-making through case consultation and applied discussion, translating theory into practical strategies for supporting adults navigating ARFID and feeding challenges.
Presenter: Naureen Hunani, RD
Date: May 19th 2026
Time: 12:00-2:00 pm ET
This opening module explores the complex intersections between neurodivergence, feeding differences, eating disorders, and ARFID. The session examines how neurodevelopmental differences and relational experiences shape people’s relationships with food and their bodies. Participants will also explore how systemic barriers, stigma, and forms of oppression—including ableism within healthcare systems—can influence how feeding challenges are recognized, understood, and treated. We will discuss key risk factors and contextual influences that contribute to eating difficulties in neurodivergent individuals and how these experiences are often misunderstood within traditional clinical frameworks. This module sets the foundation for the course by introducing a neurodivergent-affirming approach to care grounded in respect, autonomy, safety, and inclusive practice.
Presenter: Naureen Hunani, RD
Date: May 26th 2026
Time: 12:00-2:00 pm ET
This module explores how sensory processing differences, nervous system regulation, interoception, and executive functioning challenges can shape a person’s relationship with food and their ability to nourish themselves consistently. Participants will examine how sensory sensitivities, difficulties with body signals, and executive functioning barriers can influence eating patterns and daily access to nourishment. The session will also focus on practical ways clinicians can support sensory differences and interoceptive awareness through accommodations and affirming strategies. Participants will learn concrete tools to help clients navigate planning, initiating, and sustaining eating, while reducing overwhelm and cognitive load. Through clinical examples, we will explore supportive frameworks and practical interventions that promote safety, increase consistency with eating, and help clients reconnect with their bodies with greater awareness and less shame or guilt.
Presenter: Naureen Hunani, RD
Date: June 2, 2026
Time: 12:00-2:00 pm ET
This module explores how safety, capacity, and health-related factors shape a person’s ability to engage with food and nourishment. Participants will examine how trauma, burnout, chronic illness, and fluctuating capacity can significantly influence eating patterns, motivation, and participation in treatment. Burnout—particularly among neurodivergent individuals—is often one of the least explored factors in feeding and eating work, yet it can profoundly affect access to nourishment and daily functioning. The session will also explore how hypermobility, chronic pain, illness, fatigue, and other health challenges can create additional demands that make traditional treatment approaches difficult to access or sustain. Clinicians will learn how to recognize signs of burnout and capacity limits, and how to adapt care in ways that are trauma-informed, burnout-informed, and accessible. Through clinical discussion and examples, we will explore approaches that meet clients where they are, honouring their lived realities while creating supportive pathways toward nourishment, safety, and sustainable care.
Presenter: Naureen Hunani, RD
Date: June 16th, 2026
Time: 12:00-2:00 pm ET
This module explores the different layers of treatment and support for adults living with ARFID and feeding challenges. Participants will examine a range of treatment modalities and discuss when different approaches may be appropriate, while grounding this work within a neurodivergent-affirming, strengths-based framework. We will also explore the role of grief and complexity in this work, recognizing that healing and support can look different for each person. The session will consider how the ARFID lifecycle, life transitions, and hormonal changes can influence eating patterns and support needs over time. In addition, participants will reflect on the importance of advocacy, supportive relationships, community care, and self-acceptance in helping individuals build a sustainable relationship with food. The module will also introduce the concept of food identity and how clinicians can support clients in reconnecting with nourishment in ways that align with who they are.
Guest Speaker: Kris Scover, RDN, LD
Date: June 23rd, 2026
Time: 12:00-2:00 pm ET
In this session, Kris explores what ARFID can teach us about eating disorder care, recovery, and the broader systems that shape treatment. Drawing from case studies and lived experiences—including their own—the session invites clinicians to examine the complexities of ARFID and the limitations of traditional eating disorder frameworks. Participants will reflect on how ARFID challenges many dominant assumptions about motivation, recovery, and what “successful” treatment looks like. The discussion will also highlight how neurodivergence, identity, and systems of privilege and marginalization can shape people’s experiences with food and care.
Through clinical reflection and discussion, this module encourages clinicians to embrace nuance, rethink rigid models of recovery, and consider how neurodiversity-affirming care can better support individuals navigating ARFID and feeding challenges.
Presenter: Naureen Hunani, RD
Date: June 30th, 2026
Time: 12:00-2:00 pm ET
This final module focuses on integrating the concepts and frameworks explored throughout the course into clinical practice. Participants will reflect on real client cases, including cases brought forward by participants, and engage in collaborative group discussion to deepen their understanding of the material covered. Through case review, clinicians will explore how neurodivergent-affirming approaches to ARFID care can be applied in day-to-day clinical work. The session will also consider the importance of collaborating with other members of the care team and holding space for the complexity clients bring to treatment. Participants will examine practical supports and accommodations, reflect on how to adapt care to individual needs, and explore how to translate theory into meaningful practice. By working through cases together, clinicians will strengthen their clinical reasoning and leave with greater confidence in supporting adults navigating ARFID and feeding challenges.
I’m Naureen Hunani, a multiply neurodivergent dietitian with over 18 years of clinical experience. I specialize in feeding disorders, including ARFID, and I’m particularly interested in the intersection of neurodivergence and feeding differences. I’m incredibly passionate about helping dietitians and helping professionals build neurodiversity-informed practices.
Even though feeding differences are commonly seen in the neurodivergent population, not many of us were trained in how to support this population in a way that is affirming and trauma-informed. I love to support pro-justice, HAES®-aligned professionals who are striving to build liberatory practices.
To learn more about RDs for Neurodiversity, click here.
Guest Speaker
Meet Kris Scover, RDN, LD (they/them)
Part 5. Title: What ARFID Teaches Us: Case Studies & Lived Experiences
Kris is a registered dietitian and public speaker who specializes in working with neurodivergent, gender-expansive, and queer clients who are seeking an agentic approach to eating disorder care. Kris is queer, trans, non-binary, and multiply neurodivergent, and their work is shaped by these identities and their desire to improve access to inclusive eating disorder care. They are particularly passionate about changing the way ARFID is conceptualized and treated in eating disorder spaces, a passion born from their own personal experience with ARFID as well as the experiences of their clients. Kris practices from an anti-diet, fat-positive, trauma-informed perspective at their private practice, NourishedED.
Description of their talk:
Join Kris Scover, RDN, LD, as they explore the many things that ARFID can teach us about ourselves, eating disorder treatment, and the concept of recovery. They will highlight case studies and lived experiences (including their own lived experience) in an interactive presentation that will dig deep into the theory of ARFID, neurodivergence, and eating disorder treatment reconstruction. They will also address the complex intersection of ARFID with various eating disorders, neurodivergences, and chronic health conditions. Attendees will learn about the long-lasting damage that "gold-standard" eating disorder treatment has on ARFID clients and the way that ARFID treatment reconstruction can drive larger eating disorder treatment reconstruction.
Yes, we do offer equity pricing. Spots are limited. If you are a member of an under-represented group and would like to have access to equity-based pricing, please email us and we will send you a code. info@rdsforneurodiversity.com
Once the course is completed, you will have a full year to review and integrate the material.